Ask 13: Is the smoky dessert dragon's breath safe?

by Frank Fraboni

"At the Asheville Mall, I saw four children with some sort of snack and a small cup of liquid to dip the snacks in. One of the girls bit one and breathed the vapor out through her nose. Is this safe?" Pamela Estes wrote Ask 13. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)

Dragon's breath is a treat made of fruity cereal puffs soaked in liquid nitrogen. When eaten and exhaled, the puffs release a thick fog, hence the name dragon's breath.

"At the Asheville Mall, I saw four children with some sort of snack and a small cup of liquid to dip the snacks in. One of the girls bit one and breathed the vapor out through her nose. Is this safe?" Pamela Estes wrote Ask 13.

The dragon's breath kiosk is located in front of American Eagle Outfitters at the mall.

The treat is made by taking the cereal puffs and dunking them in a bowl of liquid nitrogen.

"It's not smoke, and it's not harmful to your lungs and to your health, it's just cool," employee Christen Venable said. "Liquid nitrogen boils at room temperature, so, when you put it in your mouth, it's more of a steam than a smoke."

At the kiosk, there is a warning sign that says foods prepared with liquid nitrogen are extremely cold. The sign also says the dessert may cause irritation if consumed inappropriately. And it says to use a bamboo stick provided by the kiosk to pick up the snack instead of using your bare hands.

There has been one report of chemical burns after a 14-year-old picked up the treat with her bare hands.